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January 31, 2025: Just yesterday, we updated this post noting that the limited-time offers on the United Airlines personal credit cards had lasted unusually long. Well, today Chase and United decided to end that party—the welcome offers on the United personal credit cards are back down to their regular offers.
At the same time, Chase released limited-time offers on the business United credit cards. And the United℠ Business Card now offers a 100,000 point bonus—one of the largest bonuses we’ve sver seen on a United credit card.
United Airlines offers six credit cards in partnership with Chase. These cards can be a great way to get benefits on United like free checked bags, travel insurance protections, Premier Qualifying Points, United Club access, and more. All of the United credit cards also offer sign-up bonuses which can be a great way to earn United Mileage Plus miles.
We keep this post updated with the best public United Airlines credit card bonuses and republish it when United and Chase changes the bonuses.
Best United Credit Card offers: Earn up to 100k bonus miles
Here are the best public United credit card offers available. This list includes the best public offers available on the internet, regardless of our affiliate relationships.
United Gateway℠ Card: bonus_miles_full (Regular APR: reg_apr,reg_apr_type) Learn how to apply.
Annual fee: annual_fees- United℠ Explorer Card: bonus_miles_full Learn how to apply.
Annual fee: annual_fees - United Quest℠ Card: bonus_miles_full Learn how to apply.
Annual fee: annual_fees - United Club℠ Infinite Card: bonus_miles_full Learn how to apply.
Annual fee: annual_fees - United℠ Business Card: bonus_miles_full Learn how to apply.
Annual fee: annual_fees 
United Club℠ Business Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles + 1,000 Premier qualifying points (PQP) after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
Quick take: The United℠ Business Card offers a larger bonus than the equivalent personal version, but the United℠ Explorer Card card requires less spending. The current United Club℠ Business Card welcome bonus isn’t terribly compelling.
In this article…
Our take: The United Business Card clearly has the best bonus.
Chase and United periodically up the sign-up bonuses of the United credit cards, so if you wait for a few months, there’s a decent chance that you can find a better offer on a personal credit card.
But now is a fantastic time to pick up one of the business credit cards, since Chase just increased the bonuses on both cards substantially. It probably comes as no surprise that we prefer the United℠ Business Card’s bonus, since it offers more miles for the same amount of spending that the United Club℠ Business Card’s bonus.
More about each of the United Airlines credit cards
Earning miles through a United credit card offer isn’t the only reason to get a United Airlines credit card. Each of these cards can provide plenty of ongoing value for United Airlines flyers. Here’s a bit more about each of the cards that features a new cardmember welcome bonus.
You can find the best card for you in our complete overview of all of the United Airlines credit cards, which has tables where you can compare all of the benefits of United airlines credit cards, side-by-side.
United Gateway℠ Card: An entry-level card with no compelling value proposition
The United Gateway℠ Card is United’s entry level credit card that earns MileagePlus miles. You’ll earn miles when you spend with the card and get a small discount on in-flight purchases with the card. The United Gateway℠ Card has no annual fee.
When to pick this card: You’ll usually get an airline credit card for the benefits—airline credit cards typically don’t offer compelling rewards for spending. In the case of the United Gateway, the earnings are limited and it offers almost no benefits for flying United, other than a 25% discount in inflight and club premium dink purchases. United miles don’t expire, so you don’t need to worry about keeping a card open if you’re an infrequent United flyer. You’re probably better off upgrading at least the United℠ Explorer Card for the checked bag benefit or considering a 2% credit card.
United℠ Explorer Card: A free checked bag and two lounge passes per year
The United℠ Explorer Card offers a free first checked bag on United, one-time passes to the United Club each year, a credit for trusted traveler programs, and the opportunity to earn Premier Qualifying Points toward status. The card has a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
When to pick this card: You’ll get the most value from the United Explorer card if you fly on United occasionally and would otherwise pay for checked bags. If you have frequent flyer status or fly on airfares that include a checked bag, the card isn’t going to provide much value.
Yes, the two included United Club passes provide a nice perk when traveling on United, but you’re probably not going to pay the card’s ongoing annual fee solely for two lounge visits a year. If you want consistent airport lounge access, there are better options for lounge access, including the United Club℠ Infinite Card.
Not sure the United℠ Explorer Card is the right card for you? Compare this card’s benefits and features against all of the other United credit cards.
United Quest℠ Card: The best card if you earn and redeem MileagePlus miles
The United Quest℠ Card may be the best choice for the United MileagePlus member who flies United often, but doesn’t want to pay for United lounge access. The United Quest℠ Card has a $250 annual fee.
When to pick this card: The United Quest℠ Card offers the most value for MileagePlus members who fly on United and redeem miles a few times a year. You’ll get two 5,000 mile award flight credits each year when you redeem your miles and up to $125 in annual United purchase credits. If you regularly check bags and don’t have another way to get free checked bags, you’ll get even more value from the card because you’ll get your first and second checked bags for free.
Chances are, if you’re looking at the United Quest card, you’re flying United often. Either pair the card with another card offering lounge access or consider whether it’s worth upgrading to the United Club℠ Infinite Card for lounge access. Compare all of the United cards and find the best card for you.
United Club℠ Infinite Card: United Club access for the very frequent United traveler
The United Club℠ Infinite Card is the card that will get you into the United Club when traveling on United. It is also the card that offers the most miles for your United charges, paired with the most generous slate of additional travel benefits. The card has an annual fee of $525.
When to pick this card: The United Club Infinite card is designed for the person who flys United a lot and can charge their United flights to their personal credit card. For $525 a year, you’re buying access to the United Club, 4x earnings on your United purchases, and the ability to earn up to 10,000 Premier Qualifying Points each year. The more you fly United, the more value you’ll get out of this card.
If you only want to buy United Club access and don’t care about earning miles (or can’t charge your United flights to your personal card) consider the United Club℠ Business Card. Find the right United card for you in our comparison of all of the United credit cards.
United℠ Business Card: A better value for small business owners than the United℠ Explorer Card
The United℠ Business Card is United and Chase’s entry-level offering for small business owners. The card offers the usual benefits like a free checked bag and earning additional miles on United tickets that you’d expect from an entry-level card. Carrying the United℠ Business Card can also help you earn Premier qualifying points, the points you need for status.
When to pick this card: Like the personal United℠ Explorer Card, the best way to think about the United Business card is as a pre-payment for a free checked bag for you and a companion when you fly United. If you fly frequently with United and would otherwise get a free checked bag, the card isn’t going to provide much value.
If you’re a small business owner, this card is probably a better choice than the personal card. The card includes two lounge passes each year, but you can also get a $100 United travel credit after 7 United flight purchases—a benefit not offered on the personal card. Find the best United card for you in our comparison of United cards.
United Club℠ Business Card: The cheapest way to buy United Club membership
For small business owners, the United Club℠ Business Card offers the most affordable entry point for United Club℠ lounge access. The card doesn’t earn terribly impressive rewards on United travel, but it is the only United card that earns 1.5x miles on general purchases. The United Club℠ Business Card’s annual fee is $450.
When to pick this card: The United Club℠ Business Card is the cheapest way to get a United Club membership. You won’t earn as many points or benefit from the saver ward travel discount available on the personal card, but you’ll save $75 each year in annual fee charges. Pick this card if you travel with United often and can’t charge your business travel to your personal card.
Learn more about this and the other United credit cards in our roundup of all United credit cards.
Other ways to get United miles through welcome bonuses
Chase Ultimate Rewards® is a transfer partner of United Mileage Plus. If you’re collecting Mileage Plus miles, you might also be interested in Ultimate Rewards welcome bonuses. Ultimate Rewards become transferable to United Mileage Plus if you hold a premium Ultimate Rewards credit card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Frequently asked questions
I already have one United credit card. Can I get another?
Yes. You can hold multiple United Airlines credit cards and earn a welcome bonus for each. In fact, United encourages small business owners to hold both a personal and a business credit card with its “better together” bonus.
Which United credit card gets me free bags?
Any of the United credit cards with an annual fee will get you a first checked bag free. The United Quest℠ Card, United Club℠ Infinite Card and United Club℠ Business Card offers a first and second checked bag for free.
Which is the best United credit card?
The best card for you depends on how often you fly with United. Occasional flyers are probably best matched to the United℠ Explorer Card. If you want lounge access, consider the United Club℠ Infinite Card. Frequent United travelers who don’t need lounge access should consider the United Quest℠ Card.
Advertiser disclosure: Cards and Points has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Cards and Points and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Some or all of the card offers that appear on this site are from advertisers. Compensation may affect how and where card products appear on the site. The site does not include all card companies or all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities. Terms apply to all credit card benefits.
